Daily Current Affairs Updates–11th January 2017

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

NATIONAL:

Karan Johar invited to World Economic Forum annual meeting

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been invited to the upcoming 47th World Economic Forum’s annual meeting as a cultural leader. The global event will take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from January 17 to 20. This year, the theme of the event is ‘Responsive and Responsible Leadership’. “Representing my country…on a global level is always exhilarating and empowering,” said Johar.

Delhi plans underpasses at BRT intersections

The Delhi government is planning to build underpasses at various intersections of the dismantled bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor to ease traffic, according to reports. It is planning to construct a slightly elevated structure on the corridor beneath which the underpass will run. The road redesigning plan also includes a lane for non-motorised vehicles, benches and bus shelters.

Centre plans to set up independent railway regulator

The Centre is planning to institute an independent railway regulator that will determine passenger and freight tariffs, an official has said. The Rail Development Authority, which the Union Cabinet is yet to clear, will recommend tariff changes by taking into account direct and indirect costs. Notably, train tariffs are heavily subsidised, with 27% of rail revenue coming from passenger tickets.

Govt panel calls for making DD, AIR corporate entities

A panel of top bureaucrats has recommended PM Narendra Modi to make public broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio corporate entities. This would reduce their dependence on government funds and give them flexibility in decision-making, like BBC, the panel said. The panel also recommended reviewing the existence of Prasar Bharati, which runs AIR and Doordarshan.

India now world’s 6th largest manufacturing nation: Modi

Speaking at the inauguration of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday said, “We have become 6th largest manufacturing country in the world.” Modi further said, “Over last two and a half years, we have also evolved a culture of healthy competitions among states, being rated on parameters on good governance and have delivered quick results.”

Maharashtra govt announces Rs.316 cr for ‘ailing’ cotton mills

Maharashtra cabinet has announced a loan waiver scheme amounting to Rs.316 crore for around 130 “ailing” cotton cooperatives in the state. Under the scheme, the state government will bear the interest burden on loans availed by cotton cooperatives from lending institutions. The waiver will be applicable for five years and would be eligible for loans up to Rs.3,000 per spindle.

All MP schools to hold mass Surya Namaskar session on Jan 12

All schools and colleges in Madhya Pradesh have been asked to hold mass ‘Surya Namaskar’ sessions on January 12 to mark Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. A district collector-led panel has been formed to conduct the programme. Earlier, a Maharashtra government proposal to make ‘Surya Namaskar’ mandatory in civic schools was dubbed as a ploy to “saffronise” education by the opposition.

Mobile app launched to help locate public toilets in Mumbai

A mobile application ‘Mumbai Toilet Locator’ has been launched by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to help people find public toilets. Currently available for Android users, the application will provide the location of 800 toilets across the city. “The application will help commuters, especially those on highways, where the only option is to go to nearby restaurants,” said an official.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today that collaborative efforts of Industries, academia and government are needed to drive innovations and development in composites sector for success of ‘Make In India’. He was speaking during inauguration of the three-day International Conference and Exhibition on Re-enforced Plastics (ICERP) at Bombay Exhibition center today.

ICERP organized by FRP Institute once in two years, is the 8th in the series being organized by FRP Institute since 2002. The three-day ICERP 2017 event will comprise of exhibition, conference programmes emphassing on mechanism, process and automation.

Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa arrives in Goa on 2 day state visit

The Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa has arrived in Goa on a two day state visit yesterday. He is accompanied by Portuguese delegation comprising of 21 members. Costa who traces his roots to Goa, will attend various programmes in his two day stay in Goa.

In one of the programmes, he would be presented the English translation of the book originally authored by his father Orlando Costa.

Assam: Digi Dhan mela being held in Guwahati

In Assam, the Digi Dhan mela is being held in Guwahati today state IT minister Keshab Mahanta has inaugurated the mela in presence of senior officials.Several banks,organizations have participated in the mela.

People in large number have shown interest to learn on digital banking.Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal,DoNER minister Jitendra Singh and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju will also participate in the Digi Dhan mela.

INTERNATIONAL:

Trump drops announcer who presented last 11 presidents

Breaking a 60-year-old tradition followed by 11 US Presidents, President-elect Donald Trump has dropped legendary announcer Charlie Brotman who has been the ‘Voice of the Inauguration Day parade’. Trump will be presented by freelance announcer Steve Ray instead. Brotman, who said he was “heartbroken” and “destroyed” by the decision, will now be the ‘Announcer Chairman Emeritus’.

Europe’s first underwater museum opens in Lanzarote

The Museo Atlántico, which is known to be the first underwater museum in Europe, was inaugurated off the coast of Lanzarote, Spain. The exhibit features 12 installations and over 300 life-size human figures. Designed by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the art installation aims to promote environmental awareness and social change.

BANKING NEWS:

Banks admit depositing Rs.1 to reduce zero-balance Jan Dhans

Public sectors banks Bank of Baroda and Bank of India (BOI) have admitted asking staff to deposit Rs.1 in Jan Dhan accounts to reduce the number of zero-balance accounts, according to an Indian Express report. Out of 23.4 crore accounts opened across 27 banks till September 13, 2016, 1.2 crore accounts showed Rs.1 as the only transaction, the report added.

World Bank :‘Effects of demonetisation will disappear in medium term’

The World Bank has said the “adverse effects” of demonetisation in India will disappear in the medium term, saying any reform has short-term costs. However, the World Bank cut its estimates of India’s growth rate in 2016-17 to 7% from the previous projection of 7.6%. An official also said that demonetisation will help in reducing the size of informal economy.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY NEWS:

Flipkart’s Binny Bansal invests in 3D printing startup

Flipkart’s Co-founder and Group CEO Binny Bansal along with four other angel investors has invested Rs.6.6 crore in Supercraft3D, a 3D printing startup focused on health and medicine applications. Founded in 2016, the startup provides visualisation solutions to help hospitals, doctors and academicians get a better understanding of anatomy. It also manufactures customised body implants for patients.

Reliance Jio beats Airtel to become fastest 4G operator

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio beat telcos Airtel, Vodafone and others, to become the fastest 4G service provider in India in December 2016, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. In October, TRAI had revealed that Jio was India’s slowest 4G operator.

Reliance invested Rs.2.4 lakh crore in Gujarat: Ambani

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said his company made cumulative investments worth over Rs.2.4 lakh crore to date in Gujarat, making it the largest investment by a single Indian corporate house in one state. “These investments provide sustained employment, both direct and indirect to over two lakh people, and contribute to Gujarat’s export competitiveness,” Ambani added.

IBM becomes first company to get 8,000 US patents in a year

American technology company IBM has become the first company to receive more than 8,000 US patents in one year in 2016. With 8,088 patents, IBM received an average of 22 patents per day last year. IBM was followed by Samsung and Canon with 5,518 and 3,665 patents respectively. Technology major Google received the fifth most number of patents at 2,835.

BIS revises Indian Standard on gold hallmarking

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) today said it has revised Indian Standard on gold hallmarking, which is effective from January 1 this year. The hallmarked gold jewellery will now be available in three grades of 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat. The caratage will also be marked on jewellery in addition to fineness for convenience of consumers.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

New material 10 times stronger, 20 times lighter than steel

MIT researchers claim to have designed a 3D form of graphene, which is 10 times stronger than steel with a density of just 5% of steel. The 3D graphene structures have been created by compressing flakes of two-dimensional graphene forms using heat and pressure. These were then fused to form one of the strongest and lightest materials known till date.

WeChat launches apps that work without downloading

China’s WeChat has launched ‘Mini Programs’, which are apps built into the messaging service and do not need to be downloaded to use. Users can directly search and use an app on WeChat instead of downloading it from App Store or Google Play. The mini apps include a photo editing app, productivity app, flight search engine, and recipe search engine.

AGREEMENTS:

Virat Kohli removed as Adidas brand ambassador

German sportswear company Adidas has decided not to renew its contract with Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. Kohli had signed a Rs.30 crore endorsement contract with Adidas in early 2014 which was up for renewal last month. This comes a day after Kohli was revealed as the brand ambassador of Chinese smartphone maker Gionee.

India, Kenya sign agreements in area of agriculture

India and Kenya today signed agreements in the area of agriculture which were inked after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Moid and Kenyian President Uhuru Kenyatta in New Delhi.

In his press statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, expansion of bilateral trade, greater flow of capital between two economies and stronger developmental partnership is a priority.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

‘La La Land’ gets 11 nominations at BAFTA Awards 2017

‘La La Land’, the romantic musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, has been nominated in eleven categories for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2017. The science fiction film ‘Arrival’ and psychological thriller ‘Nocturnal Animals’ have received nine nominations each. American drama film ‘Manchester by the Sea’ has been nominated in six categories.

APPOINTMENTS:

Flipkart’s logistics arm Ekart’s head quits

A day after Flipkart announced the appointment of Kalyan Krishnamurthy as CEO and elevation of Binny Bansal to Group CEO role, its logistics arm Ekart’s head Saikiran Krishnamurthy reportedly quit the startup. Flipkart promoted Chief Administrative Officer Nitin Seth as Chief Operating Officer as well as Ekart’s head. Reports suggest more senior executives are likely to quit Flipkart next month.

Jimmy Adams appointed new West Indies director

West Indies turned to former batsman Jimmy Adams to help rebuild the side as he was named their new director of cricket.

Adams played 54 Test matches for the Caribbean side and will be able to draw upon from his vast experience as he turns his attention to overseeing the development of West Indies cricket

at all levels.

SPORTS NEWS:

UK becomes first country to recognise parkour as a sport

The United Kingdom has become the world’s first country to officially recognise parkour as a sport. Parkour, also known as freerunning, is similar to military obstacle training and involves a participant getting from one point to another, tackling terrain using only his/her natural body strength. The sport has been considered controversial since it uses minimal protection gear.

13-time gymnastics world champion retires aged 19

Russian rhythmic gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva, who won 13 world championships from 2013 to 2015, has retired from the sport aged 19. Kudryavtseva, who suffered a fracture while preparing for Rio Olympics, won a silver in all-around gymnastics at Rio. She also became the youngest rhythmic gymnast to win the World Championships, winning the all-around category in 2013 aged 15 years.

8-year-old Manipur boy breaks limbo skating world record

Tiluck Keisam, an 8-year-old boy from Manipur, set a new world record in limbo skating in Delhi on Monday, for the farthest distance in limbo skating under bars. Tiluck covered 145 metres in 41 seconds with cones under bars, set at a height of 30 cm. Tiluck bettered his previous record of 116 metres in 31.87 seconds, set in 2015.

Pankaj Advani wins Kolkata Open National Snooker C’ship

Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won the 3rd Kolkata Open National Invitation Snooker Championship on Tuesday. The 16-time world champion defeated Aditya Mehta 5-1, who won the previous two editions of the tournament in 2015 and 2016. Notably, this was Advani’s maiden title win at the Kolkata Open.

In pictures: Snowboarding big air World Cup in Moscow

The big air event of the 2016-17 Snowboard World Cup was held in Moscow on January 7 in sub-zero temperatures touching a low of -29°C. Big air in snowboarding consists of a competitor riding downhill on a snowboard performing complex tricks and jumps. The sport is set to make its Winter Olympics debut in PyeongChang in South Korea in 2018.

World Cup: FIFA to expand competition to 48 teams

FIFA has decided that the World Cup will be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32. An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament.

The sport’s world governing body voted unanimously in favour of the change at a meeting in Zurich today. The number of tournament matches will rise to 80, from 64, however, the eventual winners will still play only seven games.

OBITUARY:

Former German president Roman Herzog passes away aged 82

Former German President Roman Herzog passed away in a hospital at the age of 82, the presidential office announced on Tuesday. Herzog had served as the chief justice of Germany’s highest court before being elected to a five-year term as president in 1994. He is best remembered for urging “a jolt” of political and social reform in Germany.

Journalist who first reported outbreak of WWII dies aged 105

Clare Hollingworth, the veteran British war correspondent who first broke the news that World War II had started died on Tuesday in Hong Kong, aged 105. Hollingworth, who was born in Leicester, England, covered major historic events including conflicts in India and Pakistan. Before becoming a reporter, Hollingworth helped rescue thousands of people from Hitler’s forces by arranging British visas.